-
Women in the Progressive Era
The first Women's Rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York. Over time women began to realize that in order to achieve reform, they needed to win the right to vote. -
Gilded Age
The Progressives were committed to changing and reforming every aspect of the state, society and economy. Significant changes enacted at the national levels included the imposition of an income tax with the Sixteenth Amendment, direct election of Senators with the Seventeenth Amendment, Prohibition with the Eighteenth Amendment, and women's suffrage through the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. -
The Progressive Era
The Progressive Era was a period of widespread social activism and political reform across the United States -
The Reform of Election
Reforms were made at all levels of government. The Direct Primary was instituted and led to the 17th amendment, which legalized the direct election of senators. -
Progressive Era Reforms
During the Progressive era, which lasted from roughly 1890-1920, the people’s desire for reform in the political process led to the establishment of the primaries. A primary is a state election in which citizens of that state cast their vote for the candidate whom they want to represent their party in the general election. -
Progressive Politics and Calls for Reform
Progressives advocate change or reform. Progressives believe that the government should be responsive to the needs of its citizens in order to improve conditions in government & society. During the Progressive Era from around 1900-1917, reformers fought to end abuses of power in politics and government. -
La Follette
One of the well-known Progressive politicians was Robert La Follette. He served as a congressmen, senator, & governor of Wisconsin. Wisconsin became known as a 'laboratory for democracy.' He worked to curb the influence and power large trusts had over the government. He quickly gained national attention and became a leader of the National Progressive Republican League, whose goal was to open up the Republican Party to Progressive reforms. -
Local Political Reforms
Cities were controlled by political machines which were organizations that controlled the activities of a political party. Under city bosses, political machines were able to corrupt the city governments by bribing judges, providing contracts to businessmen in return for favors & filling city jobs with political supporters, regardless of their qualifications. Special interest groups such as labor unions & trade associations, lobbied for reform and stood up to the power of the political machines. -
The Progressive Era was one of general prosperity after the Panic of 1893 a severe depression ended in 1897.
The Panic of 1907 was short & mostly affected financiers. The Panic of 1907 was followed by a small decline in real wages & increased unemployment with both trends continuing until WW1. The weakened economy & persistent federal deficits led to changes in fiscal policy, including the imposition of federal income taxes on businesses & individuals & the creation of the Federal Reserve System. -
Muckrakers
Members of the press that investigated corruption in order to expose. They had a great amount of influence, often resulting in the passage of laws designed to reform the abuse they reported. -
The Formation of the Progressive Party
Some Republicans are unhappy with President William Taft's conservative approach, split with the Republican Party & created the Progressive Party in 1912. The Progressive Party refused to support Taft as the Republican nominee for the 1912 presidential election. Theodore Roosevelt ran as the candidate but was unsuccessful in obtaining a presidential win. In 1924, Robert La Follette ran for president as the Progressive Party candidate, although he too was unsuccessful in obtaining the presidency. -
State Political Reforms
Several key electoral reforms were created at the state level in an effort to increase the power of voters and make government more responsive to the people. Referendum is the process in which a legislative body can submit a proposed local or state law to be voted on directly by the people. If a person believes an existing law to be bad, they may use the referendum process by circulating a petition asking tht the law should be submitted for popular vote.
